Drowning Dangers to Be Aware Of

While parents would like to believe that their child drowning could never happen to them, it is a far more frequent occurrence then most would think. In fact, nationwide, there are typically more than 240 children under 5 who drown in swimming pools each year. And more than 110 children under five drown around the home each year. These may be very small numbers statistically, but each of those 350 families feel real pain at having lost a child to drowning. The following are some of the drowning dangers around the home.

Bathtubs-

• The bath is the most common around the home place where a child drowns. More than half of the at home drownings have happened in a bathtub, and more than half of those were children under a year old.
• Don’t leave child unattended. The majority of incidents where a child drowns in a bathtub, that child has been left alone, even if it was just for a few moments to answer a phone, or grab a fresh towel. Bathe your children when you have the time to stay in the bathroom with them from start to finish.
• Don’t leave water running, even if it is unstopped. Unfortunately, many parents think that it is okay to leave a child in a tub that is running as long as they do not stop the drain. However, often when they return, they find that the drain became stopped, either by the child, or from being clogged, often by a toy, etc. and that the child is submerged. Again, never leave a child unattended in a bathtub.

Hot tubs/spas- A hot tub or spa can be a fun thing to have, but it poses a risk to your family. Children are often curious about hot tubs, and find ways to get in, but are unable to get out. If they turn on the jets or bubbles, they may be difficult to hear, even if they are calling for help. If you choose to have a hot tub in your home or yard, be sure to have a cover for it, and make sure it is one that locks. A curious child could easily get under a cover, and have it fall over and close on top of them, trapping them in the spa.

Buckets- Believe it or not, close to 11 deaths a year occur with 5-gallon buckets. If you use them in your home, or have them for any reason, do not leave them around. And never leave them filled with water. They are handy for cleaning windows, and mopping floors, etc. but a child may climb in, get stuck, stick their head in, etc. and could drown.

Wading pools-Backyard wading pools can be a drowning danger, so avoid this by always supervising children when they play in them, and never leave filled and unattended.

Landscaping ponds-Landscaping ponds are usually filled with fish, or ducks, etc. and are something that a curious toddler is sure to be interested in. They rarely have a barrier of any kind, which makes them a potential danger. Should you chose to use them in your landscaping, be careful to monitor children when they play outside.